Paper-perforating machine.



I. T. SCHAAFF.

PAPER PERFORMING MACHINE.

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PAPER PERFRATING MACHINE.

` APPLICATION F|LED NOV-17,1915- 1,300,491 Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

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J. T. SCHAAFF.

PAPER PERFUHATING MACHINE.

APPLlcmoN msn Nov.17.191e.

1 ,300,49 1 Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.|. T. SCHAAFF.

PAPER PERFORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED Nov.1r.19|s.

5 SHEETS-SHEE 4.

Patented Apr.

J. T. SCHAAFF.

PAPER PERFORMING MACHINE.

l APPLICATION FILED NOV. II, IBIS. Patented Apr. 15

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. OFFIQE.

JOHN T. SCHAAFF, 0]!"Y WASHINGTON, DTSTRICT OF CULUIIBTA.

PAPEBfPERFORATING MACHINE.

Specification of Letterslatenf.

Patented; Ap r.. 15, i919'.

Application filed November 17, 1916. Serial No. 131,954.

To all whom t may concern Be' it known that l. JOHN T. SCHAAFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at fashington` District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PaperPerforating Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drewing and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

Among theV ina-in objects of this invention is to provide al machine for perforatin all kinds of record cards. but especially tiose of the more complex kinds which it is very diflicult, if not practically impossible to punch out of sight without outside guidance.

A further object is to provide a. machine in which the power for perforating the card is supplied through an electroma-griet instead of by the fingers of the opera-tor.

A. further object is to provide simple sind improved means for making und breaking the electric circ-uit.

A Afurther object is to provide means With the nid of which perforiitions muy be made in the reverse order-that is from right to left when desired.

A further object is to provide means which will enable the operator to make several perforations inv the saine vertical. column, the escnpmncnt mechanism remaining inactive the while.

A further object is to provide Simple, positive :ind adjustablev means for' first re'- lcasing' the cafrd carrier and then arresting its movement at :my predetermined point in its travel toward the left by the depression o-f a single finger key.

l also provide means for' movi-ng" the cord carrier forward, or toward the left, by a. step-bystep moven'lent Without perforating the card at each step.

.i further object is to provide en indicator o-f special design which Will et all times show the column then under the punches, and at the Sametime indicate the particular key to be depressed to perforate the desired symbol in that column.

A further object is to provide means for moving the indicator across the index card. by steps equal in number to, and coincident with the steps of the ciird carrier but of difi'ereut lengths Jfrom those of the card carrler.

Another object is. to provide which', while l-ioldin'gg`l firmly the: being periti rated against buckling, offers theleast amount of friction and 1s easily and quickly removable to free the card should one becomejammed in the meiebigne. e

Of the dranvingeherewitm Figure l, is a, top plan View with the of4 cover removed and showing pertof' the indexcard. Fig. 2, is a, .imi-tieni` section, item1-@ht to left through the machine, `forward;of the center line. Fig. 3,y is a iront elevation, with part of the housing broken away. Fig. 4:, is a forer and. aft section@ just tothesght of the row of punches. 5,. Iis e Bottomplan View. Fig.. 6, shows tails of one of the punch. keys.V Fig. lshowsldetsqiils-of thecontact mechanism. Fig. 8, shows oil release and back step keys.L F-ig.r 9, shows ineens for moving the indicator' by steps equal in length: to: those of the oord carrier. Fig. l0, shows ineensV tor moving the indiscator i-n steps oi? any length dlesilteclfin relation to those of the' oord carrier. Fig. l1, is a detalil of plete 6.,

The invention consists lroadlfy in s;- paper' perforar-ting manchinoI wherein aa seines oi punches are operated. selectively amd ait the will of the operatorbyreleetriopoiwer. 'like machine includes a. suitable supportingorr which a cord, suol-1 as a record @amd isplaeed for perforatinig. Tlieeamd# is moved. back and forth onthe supportinglnse by a' shifting carriage or earrier w' is con trolled by en eseaipement mechanism or by n beck stepping; mechanisme Suitable relentsV ing means is= provided tor theese 'ementso that the card may be moved step ste-por may be shiftedJ bodily from. one umn po sition to another or" entirely released sind. WithdranvnA from beneath. the operating.

punches A seriesof punches is. mframged: in,

:i line transversely to the movement of card and eachpunch is controlled by a. Engel? key and suitable devices operated thereby. A motor trame moved by a. magnet eraiies' upon an interposingr member contr edi by the key for actuating the punch, associated withi the particular key depressed; This inter-posing member anlso controls-'tho .eleotric circuit for the magnet amd operantesto.

close the contacts and to release thecontacts while the key is depressed so that thev eleotromagnet is only momentarily energized and theV punch'is widthdrawn just as soon :is it hasfperforiiied its work whether or not thc key is released.

Associated with the perforating machine 5 is an index card, and an indicator which is shiftable with the record Vcard being punched, so as to indicate to the operator the particular column of the record card directly underneath the 'punches which is, of course, hidden from the operator.

With this general statement of the parts fr `of the machine'a detail description of the )resent 'embodiment of the invention will e-given. f 'time ppm ami shifting etwaige.

The machine consists of a supporting base or main frame 1 carried by supporting feet 2b'- The feet 2 are so shaped that the upper surf-face 1 ofthe supporting base is inclined a'tfla'nafngle of about 40 to the horizontal *plane t facilitate the insertion and removal ofthe cards from the machine. The cards are placed on this supporting surface 1. The supporting base has uiding flanges 201 and 202 at each 'side of t e supporting surfi-.facelfor the card and the card is moved in an endwise directionbetween these guiding flanges. Extending lengthwise of the base 1 and near its center is a slot 205 through which the upturned ends of the "f card 4supporting plates 96 and 97 move.

These supporting plates are secured by suitable screws to the rack bar 79 of the escapement mechanism and the rack bar together with the supporting plates form the carriage "for shifting the cards back and forth inl an e'ndw'ise direction on the supporting surface 1* and underneath the punches. Along the 4U inner edges of the slot 205 are guide ways r19,8 iii which the lower edges of the sup- -f-porting plates 96 and 97 move. Blocks 187 are rigidly secured tothe base 1 and limit theendwise 4movement of the rack bar. This bar is moved in one-direction by a spring and is controlled by 'an escapement mechalinism 4as'will hereinafter be more fully described. The late 96 is provided with an upturned mem er 122 and one end of the card is placed against this upturned member while fthe otherfend of the Vcard is placed @against the upturned member 123 of the end plate 97. The upturned portion 123 is extended to form a'thumb piece 98* for moving the carriage or card carrier when placing the card underneath the punches. It is 39%- important'that thevcard should be held from buckling as it is shifted on the supporting surface 1Il therefor and this is accomplished by having theledges of the card extending into guiding grooves 204. A plate 3 is secured to the guiding ledge 201 while a plate 4 is secured 't0 theguiding ledge 202. The plate 3 carries upstanding) plates 5 and 6 which are secured thereto y angle pieces 9 while the plate 4 carries upstanding plates 7 and 8 secured thereto in a similar manner. These plates are for supporting the finger keys and the operating mechanism controlled thereby, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The plates 6 and 7 are spaced at their lower edges from the surface 1 so as to form these guiding grooves 204. I also provide a plate 125, which is secured by a screw 126 to the punch socket bar. 75 This plate has a hole 199 to receive one end of a card holding rod 124 and the other end of this rod extends through a hole 141 in the end plate 96. The rod is fastened to a plate 127 held to the end of the base by a s0 screw 128 and a dowel 129. The plate 96 slides along this rod and the rod is located just above the card-so as to present that portion of the card which is underneath the operating (parts of the machine from buc- 8F kling. Or inarily, the'cards will move along the supporting base freely withouttouching the plates 6 or 7 or the rod 124, but should a card tend to buckle, then these parts will hold the card flat and if by any reason the card should be wedged in the machine the screw 128 can be quickly taken out and the rod 124 withdrawn and the card removed.

Punches and supporting devices therefor. 9 5 As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the ldrawings, I have provided a series of punches indicated at 42 which are arranged in a line extending transvrsel of the direction of movement of the car s underneath the punches. The punches are mounted in suitable sockets 41 and are normally pressed in an upward direction or held retracted by springs 43. Each punch is provided with a spring which surrounds the punch and bears at its upper end against a shoulder on the punch while the spring at its lower end bears against a shoulder at the lower end of the socet in which the spring is housed. The punches are held from turning in their sockets by a punch guide plate 44 which engages thev flat side of the shank of each punch and this plate is helden the supportmg frame by screws 45. The supporting frame 40 is provided with holes 46 intersect- 11 5 ing the punch sockets through which an instrument may be inserted to free choked punches. Beneath the punches is a die 48, it being understood, of course, that there is a female die for every unch. A Vpunch stripper plate 47 is secured) to the frame carrying the punches and the card passes between this punch stripper plate and the die 28. It will be understood from the above description that the card which is placed on the supporting surface 1f is slid along the surface by the end plates 96 and 97 and that the card will ass between the stripper plate 47 and the die 48, the stripper plate at thelrcceiving side being turned up to insure the card passing underneath the same. The stripper plate insures the punches being withdrawn from the card. It sometimes occurs that when the punches become dulled that a bur is left around the hole punched which is liable to catch in the die and considerable pressure is necessary to be exerted to push the card forward. This, however, may be readily done without any danger of the card buckling by reason of the grooves 204 receiving and guiding the edges of the card and the rod 124 which is directly above the card. It is understood that the card during a greater portion of the punching thereof, at least, is moved from the right to the left as viewed in Fig. 2. In other words, the card is placed on the supporting sun face and moved to the right underneath the punches to its extreme position and then as the punching opera-tion occurs it will be stepped to the left through the action of the escapement for the carriage. 'Through a back stepping mechanism, however, it may be stepped to the right as will be described more fully7 hereinafter.

Electromagnefz'c motor re/vice.

The punches are moved to perform their Work of punching the card by an electromagnetic motor device including a motor plate 36. This motor plate is pivoted at 3S to the fulcrum plate supporting bar 39. A spring 76 secured at one end to a pin 77 and its other end to an arm 35 on the motor plate 36, normally tends to hold said motor plate raised and against a felt pad 192 secured to the under face of the motor plate stop 191% Said motor plate stop 191IL is secured on supports 193 by screws 194 which pass through the supports and are threaded into the fulcrum plate supporting bar 39, (see Fig. 3). This motor plate 36 is moved downward by the magnet 30 when said magnet is energized. The magnet 3() is secured to a bracket or lug 183 made integral with the base 1. Said magnet has an armature 31 carrying a screw eye 32. This screw eye 32 is connected to the crank pin 34 which is threaded into the depending arm 35 of the motor plate 36. The shank of the screw eye is adj ustably connected to the armature and is held in adjusted position by a lock nut 33. From the above it will beJ apparent that when the magnet 30 is energized the armature will be drawn down and in, thus swinging the motor plate 36. This motor plate is common to all of the punches and operates the punches through an intermediate mechanism controlled by the finger keys.

F nger keys for the penedes and devices controlled thereby.

shown in Fig. 1, are numbered 1 to 12 inclusive, as in the present illustration of the invention there are twelve punches.

These punclrcontrolling finger keys are indicated at 25 in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and each iinger key is attached to a rod which slides endwise in suitable guidewa'ys in the framework of the machine. The finger keys are arranged in two banks and the rods or stems of the finger keys of the lower bank slide in a guide 28, which is a part of the machine, while the rods or stems on the upper bank of keys slide in a guide 29. Each rod or stem of the linger keys carries a frame 24, which is provided with a lugl 26. A spring for each finger key is secured at one end to the lug 26 and at its other end to one of the guides for the rods or stems of the finger key. These springs tend to hold the keys normally raised and with the frames 24 pressed against felt stops 23n and 29 respectively for the upper and lower banks. These frames also engage a felt stop 200 and limit the downward movement of the keys.

As clearly shown in Fig. 6, the frame 24 is provided with a slot 23 which is adapted to engage a crank 22 on the end of an arm 13 mounted on a rock shaft. There is a rock shaft for-each key, the rock shafts for the upper bank of keys being numbered 11 in the drawings (see Fig. 1) and the rock shafts for the lower bank of keys being numbered 10, and these rock shafts are mounted in suitable perforations 5n and 7a respectively of the plates 5 and 7 and also 6b and 7b respectively of the plates 6 and 7. The plate 6 has openings 203 through which the rock shafts 11 pass. Each rock shaft 11 carries a second arm 12 and pivoted to each arm 12 at 12 is an interposing member 14. This interposing member 14 is formed at its left hand end, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 7. with shoulders 15 and 16 which are disposed at relatively different heights. When a finger key is depressed, the interposing member 14 controlled by such key will be moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, and this will bring the shoulder 16 underneath the engaging bar 37 of the motor plate 36.

Each interposing member is provided with a slot 17 which engages a pin 18 at the outer end of a punch lever 19, which overlies the punch 42 with which it is associated. The outer end of the punch lever 19 has also a slot 21 in which the slotted end of the interposing member 14 moves. The inner end of this punch lever is fulcrumed on a plate 20 secured to the support 39. When the interposing member therefore, is moved to its extreme right, so as to bring the shoulder 16 underneath the engaging bar 37, a downward movement of the engaging bar 37, when the electromagnet is energized, will force the interposing member downwardly and through the slot and pin connections 17 and 18 the punch lever 19 Will be forced downwardly at its outer end, thus forcing the punch down with which it is associated and causing the same to perfor-ate the card. W hen the motor plate releases the interposing members, they are returned to their normal raised position through the action of the springs 43 lifting the punches.

Circuit-controlling devices.

This interposing member 14 which becomes the means of conveying the power of the motor bar to the punch, also serves as a part of the means for controlling the circuit which energizes the electromagnet. The circuit is controlled by the two contacts 60 and 61, (see Fig. 7). The Contact 60 is carried by a spring 59 fixed to a bracket 64. The contact 61 is carried by a spring 62 which is relatively stronger than the spring 59. This spring 62 is secured to a bracket Both the brackets 64 and 65 are mounted on a iber plate 63. When the contacts 60 and C1 are closed, then the circuit is closed through the electromagnet, and when these contacts are separated, then the circuit is broken. An arm 54 carries a liber plate 56, which is slotted to receive the end 58 of the contact spring 59. This arm 54 is carried by a shaft 49 iournaled in plates 6 and 7.

The shaft 49 also carries arms 50. Pivotally sup-ported at 57 on the arms 50 are arms 53, which carry a bail 52. One of the arms 53 rests normally upon an adjustable bracket or stop 197, which is fastened to the plate 7 and limits the downward movement ofthe arm 53. The bail 52 extends across all the interposing members. A spring 51 normally tends to press the bail-carrying arm 53 down against the stop 197. This spring, of course, is much lighter than the springs which raise the punches.

On the depression of the finger key 25, the interposing member connected thereto will be moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, the shoulder 16 be brought under the motor late bar 37 and the shoulder 15 engage ,the bail 52. This movement of the interposing member also swings the arm 50 to the right, rocking the shaft 49 and lowering the arm 54 which brings the contact 60 into engagement with the contact 61, thus closing the electriccircuit and the motor thereupon becomes energized. As the end of the interposing member 14 is moved downward by the motor bar, the shoulder 15 is carried below the Contact bail 52 thereby releasing the bail. As soon as this bail is out of engagement with the shoulder 15, the spring 55 lifts the arm 54, forcing the bail 52 to the left on top of shoulder 15. This lifting of the arm 54 also separates the contacts 60 and 6,1. This separating of the contacts denergizes the magnet and releases the motor plate, so that its controlling spring raises the same and permits the punch lever and interposing member depressed by the motor plate, to return to their raised positions. The upward movement of the interposing member carries the bail, new resting on top of shoulder 15 with it, and when the finger key is released, then the interposin member is moved to the left and the ail 52, under the influence of spring 51 will again fall in behind shoulder 15. It will also be seen that the adjustable stop 197 controls in large measure the duration of the electric action, as the higher up the bail 52 is held by the stop 197, the sooner` will-the bail be released from the shoulder 15, as that is being depressed by the motor plate.

The circuit to the contacts 6() and 61 includes a switch which is provided with a movable member 67 pivoted to the bracket 64 and which contacts with the switch block 70 mounted on the liber plate 66. This switch is in electrical connection with resistance 78 (see Fig. 5), and a suitable source of electrical energy indicated by the lines 75, 7

A binding post 71 connects with a clip 73 which holds one end of a fuse 68, the other end being held by a clip 74 which is connected with the electromagnet. The other terminal of the electromagnet is connected with the bracket 65 and thence through the contacts 61 and 60, carried by springs 62 and 59 respectively, to the bracket 64, and throu h the switch member 67 and switch block() and resistance 78 to the other binding post 72.

Then the switch is closed, then the source of electric current is connected with the system and will be controlled by the contacts 60 and 61. When, however, the switch is open, the current is cut ofi' from the machine. 69 is a felted stop secured to the plate 7 and limits the upward movement of the contact arm 54.

Escapemfmt mechanism.

As noted above, the card is mounted on a 'movable carriage which includes a rack bar 79. This rack bar is moved to the left, as viewed in Fi 2, by suitable sprin mechanism attache to the cord 79a. This spring mechanism 184 is of the usual ty e for movingl carriages and has not been s own in detai Coperating with the rack bar 79 is an escapement dog 80 having lugs 84 and 84. This escapement dog is pivoted at 841 to the dog rocker 82. This dog rocker 82 is supported by pivot pins 83 (see Fig. 5). A spring 85 secured at one end to the dog rocker and at the other end to an adjusting screw 95, normally tends to swing the dog rocker so as to hold the lug 84 in engagement with the teeth of the rack bar 79. T e pivotal axis of the dog rocker is disposed between the lugs 84 and 84 so that when the lug 84 is Withdrawn from engagement with the teeth of the rack through a swinging 'of the dog rocker against the action of the spring 85, the lug 84n will be caused to engage a tooth in the rack bar, (see Fig?. 2.)

T he dog rocker 82 is swung on its pivotal axis by links 12() which are connected to the universal bar 121 extending;r from one side of the machine to the other underneath the punch levers 19. When a punch lever is depressed it will engage this iuniversai bar 121, forcing the same downwardly, thus rocking the dog rocker 82 against the action of the spring 85, withdrawing the lug 84 from engagement with a tooth in the rack bar 79, and causing,- the luig 81 to engage la tooth in the rack bar T9. At this time there is but a slight movement ot' the carringe. VVhen the universal !ba-r 121 is released and the dog` rocker is returned to its normal position. through the acti-on of the spring 85, then the lug 84: Will be withdrawn from enga-gement with a tooth in the rack bar 79 and the lug 81 Will be moved into the path of the next tooth on the rack bar yand the carriage will to the left one step. As above noted, the escapement dogF 8O is lpivoted at 81h to the dog rocker. A spring 118 (see Fig. 5) fixed to the dog rocker by al screw 119, engages :at its free end the dog 80 at 81. This spring n-ormaliy tends to swing the dog 80 upward at its free end. A bracket 86 is rigidly attached to the dog rocker and a, screw 87 carried by the escapement dog 80 extends through an opening in this bracket and the head of the screw contacting With the bracket limits the up- Ward movement of the dog.

The purpose of this pivoting of the dog on the dog rocker is to permit the dog to be entirely released from the rack when shifting over several. spaces to a set position, or when it is desired to release the rack yand Withdraw the card from underneath the punches. The normal position of the dog rocker 82 is determined by the adg'ustaibie stop 110.

From the above description, it will be apparent that Whenever a finger key is depressed, the nterposing member 14 performs three functions; first, it closes the contacts 60 and 61 and causes the magnet to be energized; second, it transmits the -doiwir Ward movement of the motor plate to the punch levers; and, third, it moves the universal bar 121 downwardly, thus operating theescapemen't. This nterposing member also in its downward movement releases the control of the contacts, so that the circuit is broken and this permits the motor plate to return to its extreme upper normal position and the universal bar 121 to rise and the feed of the carriage to take place, all

of which may occur before the finger key is released.

The feed of the carriage is also controlled by a spacing key indicated at 25c in the drawing. This key is of the general construction of the linger keys for controlling the punches, and carries a frame 24 having fixed thereto a stud 11311. This stu-d engages a slot 136 in a lever 135 which is pivotedat 195 to the framework of the maclhine. A link 137 pivoted at 140 #tol the lever 135, is connected at its upper end to the nniversasl bar 121. Said link 137 is slotted at 139 and a shouldered screw 138 extends through the slot and is threaded into the end of the universal bar 121.

From the above it will be apparent that by depressing the key 25@` the lever 135 may be moved downwardly, Which moves the universal bar 121 downwardly and operates the cscapernent dog. When the -key is released, the carriage will be fed one step. It will be noted that if this key is held depresse-d, then the universal bar 121 is out of rango of the pundh-operating levers and the "punches may loe actuated one after the other without any feed of the carriage, and this enables any or all of the punches to be operated .to punch perforations in the card in the saine column.

Skip key and releasing mechanism.

Itis sometimes desirable to release the carriafge so that it may loe moved to various set positions, or entirely released, to withdraw the card from underneath the punches This is accomplished in the first instance by a skip key, and in the second instance by a release key. These keys are indicated at 25b and 25 in tlhe drawings (see Fig. 8). These keys are of the usual construction of the finger keys andere so positioned Aas to engage respectively a triangular plate 11.7. 'The key 25a engages the end 132 of this triangular plate, while the key 2,5b engages the end 133 of the triangular plate. The trianguiar piate is xed to a shaft 116. The triangfuiiar plate 117 is secured hy a lpinlll to'this shaft 116. The shafft `is journaled 4in hearings 115 securedto the base by suitable screws 130. An anni 11.3 is 'fined to the shaft 116 by means of a pin 111. Thisarin.` 11B carries a pin 112 which e ages the 111 in the releasing bar92. 'he releasing;r bar has cana faces and-91 which areadwpted to engage the end 88 of the dog 8()y and thereby nio-ve the dog 80 about its pivot '81", withdrawing the lug 84. yfrom engagement with the teeth -etherack (har 79.

This releasing bar 92' is controlled by arms 104 and 105. These arms are Apivoted respectively at 89 to a plate 103 which is attached to the base of the machine.` Each of the arms 1011 and 105 is provided with apin 168 and a spring 109 connects' these pins,

normally pressing the arms toward each other. A limiting stop or pin 106 is secured to the plate 103, and the arms 104 and 105 are respectively normallv pressed against this stop.

The releasing bar 92 carries a pin 107 extending between the arms 104 and 105. When the releasing bar is moved in one direction, one of the arms 104 will be carried away from the stop 106, and the spring 109 will return the releasin bar to normal position as soon as release When this releasing bar is moved in the other direction, then the other arm returns the releasing bar so that it is normali held in the position shown in Fig. 5 of the rawings.

When the key 25a is depressed, the releasing bar is moved toward the rear of the machine until the cam face 93 has forced the lug 84 from the rack 79. Then the spring in the spring box 184, operating through the cord 79a moves the carriage to its extreme position to the left. When this key 25 is released, then it is raised by the spring 27, carrying the same up against the felt stop 28El (Fig. 4) while the arm 105 responding to its spring 109 and acting on the pin 107, restores the releasing bar 92 to its central position.

When it is desired to skip certain of the columns or spaces without making perforations therein, the releasin bar is moved in the opposite direction by epressing the key 25". The rack bar 79 is provided with threaded holes 99, one for each tooth, into which st'ops 100 may be inserted as desired. The releasing bar 92 carries a stop intercepter 101 which moves freely in slot 102 into the path of the stops 100, so that when the releasing bar is moved in a direction so that the cam 94 releases the lug 84 from the rack, the stop intercepter 101 is brought into the ath of travel of the stop 100 and arrests t e carriage in this predetermined position. This time, when the key 25'J is released, the arm 104 acting on the Vpin 107 restores the releasing bar to its central position. The dog stop-bracket 98 and the stop intercepter 101 are secured to the releasing bar by screws 91. The bracket 98 prevents an overthrow downward of the end 88 of dog 80, as seen in Figs. 2 and 5.

Back stepper.

,147,is pivoted at 148 to this bell crank 142,

and the other end of the link engages a pin 155 on a back step dog rocker 149, which is )ivotcd in brackets 156 secured to the base y screws 157. A holding dog 151 is pivoted to this dog rocker at 1551, which is in alincment with the dog rocker pivots indicated at 155. A pushing dog 150 is pivoted to the dog rocker in line wlth the pin 155. A spring 152 connected to this pin 155 normally tends to move the back stop dog rocker to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, bringing the same into engagement with the stop rod 161.

The holding dog 151 is provided with a shoulder 153 which is adapted to engage the back stepper dog rocker 149 and isnormally held in engagement therewith by a spring 154 connected at 158 to the holding dog and at 158a to the pushing dog. This spring also tends to move the pushing dog toward the rack bar 79. When the back stepper dog rocker is against the stop 161, the free enel of the holding dog 151 comes against thil pushing dog 150, withdrawing the same from the rack and leaving the carriage free to be moved by the regular feeding mechanism.

When the key 25 is moved slightly downwardly from its upper position, the lever 159 swinging on its pivot 168 under the tension of spring 160, swings the end 162 of the lever over the lower edge 164 of the frame 24 connected to said key 25d, thus holding the key slightly depressed. 1n this position the link 147 holds the dog rocker 149 a suiiicient distance away from its stop 161, so that the dog 150 is free to en age one tooth after another of the rack bar (9 and the holding dog 151 is held in engagement with said rack bar. By a further downward movement of the key 25d, through the manipulation of the holding dog and the pushing dog, the rack is moved to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, one step at a time, it being understood that the key is not released a suicient distance so as to Arelease the dogs, but cornes up against the stop or locking lever 162, which does not throw these dogs out of operation. At this time the downward movement of the universal bar is ineffective, for the reason that although the escapement dog 8O may be drawn from the teeth of the rack, the spring moving the carriage-is ineffective, the carriage being held by the holding dog 151 and the nshing dog 150. This enables the card to e movedstep by step to the right and perforated. The card is positioned by the back stepper key, and when it is punched the automatic esca ement is ineffective to lfeed the card until rey 25*i has been released from the locking lever 162.

[indem card and operating mechanism there.-

. for.

plates referred to and the cover plate which is secured thereto by lugs 196. When the card to be perforated is placed on the surface 1a and moved underneath the punches, it will be noted that the card, Where it is being operated upon, is hidden from the sight of the operator. In the case of a card like that rindicated at 1482 in the drawing, which is the population record card of the United States Census Bureau, the card has 288 symbols, all ofwhich are at times punched, but never, of course, on the same card. It will be. ap arent that some means is necessary or in icating the location of the symbols relative to the punches, and I have, therefore, provided-` an index card for this purpose. This index card, as shown in part in Figa 1 of the drawings, is twice as long and twice as wide as the card which is to be punched, and the symbols are corrcspondingly increased in size, so they may be readily seen by the operator. I also provide an indicator of special design which travels across the card in steps equal in number, but greater in length than the coinciding' steps of the card-carrier or carriage.

The position of the card being perforated in its relation to all of the punches, is shown by the indicator upon the index card. In other Words, the column then under the punches contains exactly the same symbols as the column of the index card standing immediately to the. right of the indicator.

The index card 182 is carried by a frame supported by arms 186 Xed to the frame of the machine. A rod 173 is supported by the frame of the machine and extends length- `Wise of the card the full length thereof. A tube 169 is mounted to slide on the rod and carries the indicator 17 1. Also mounted on the tube 169 is a clip 17 5, having turned up edges 90, 99, adapted to Contact with felt buffers 176' and 177 secured to the brackets 180 and 181, respectively. The indicator is moved along the rod by a flexible cord 17 9. The cord is'secured to the indicator by being passed between the plates of the clip 17 5 and clamped therebetween by screws 171. This cord is secured at 166 to the base 1 of the machine. From this point of attac-hment the cord passes inward and half around the pulley 165 which is attached to the rack bar 79 forming a part of the carriage or carrier for the card. After leaving the pulley, this cord 17,9 passes over pulleys 168 and 168, then through the c-ljip 175, Where it is rmly clamped to:v the indicator; and thence around pulleysl 170* and 170 and again inward and half around the ulley 165, but in the opposite direction, and) then back to the base, where it is attached. at 172.

It is to be seen, therefore, that the indicater will be moved by the carrier across the card stepbystep coincident therewith,

but in steps double the length of those by which the carrier is advanced. Should it be desired to give the indicator any other rate of movement than the two-toone of the card carrier or carriage, this may be accomplished by the modified mechanism which operates the cord, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

In Fig. 9, I attach the ends of the cord to the rack bar 79, then pass it around grooved pulleys 168 and 170 Which are mounted on the frame of the machine and secure the cord between the pulleys 168 and 170 to the clip 175. l/Vhen so arranged, the indicator will be moved by steps equal in number and length to those of the card carrier. Should any other relative rate of movement of the indicator and carrier be desired, this may be accon'lplished by the arrangement shown in Fig. 10. In this Fig. 1() I employ the Well known rack, pinion and star Wheel mechanism, indicated at 79, 189, 190 and 191. The cord is secured at one end to the groovcd pulley 165. The cord is wound several times about this pulley and then carried around the pulley 168 to the clip 175, Where it is fas tened, and thence around pulley 170 and back to the grooved pulley 165, being Wrapped several times again around this pulley in the opposite direction and the end secured thereto. By varying the diameter of the pulley 165, it Will be apparent that any desired rate of travel of the indicator relative to the card carrier may be obtained.

The card-holding frame 178 is so constructed that the index card 182 may be readily removed therefrom and one substituted therefor, bearing different symbols. The frame of the machine is provided With suitable cover plates 188 for protecting the pulleys over which the cord runs. The frame is also provided with suitable handles 185 to facilitate the moving of the machine.

Operation.

The operation of my improved machine Will be apparent from the above description. The card which is to be punched is placed on the support surface 1 between the upt-urned ends 122 and 123 of the plates 96 and 97, and it is then moved underneath the punches to the extreme right hand position. This brings the indicator 174 to the extreme left hand position on the card 182. The indicator is provided with numbers shown at 167 which correspond to the numbers on the finger keys and it is understood that if the finger key indicated at 12 be depressed, the symbol' on this card corresponding to that at the right of the numeral 12 on the indicator will be punched out.

When a controlling key is depressed, the interposing member moved thereby is brought undery the motor plate and the bail controlling the circuit-making contacts shifted to close the contacts. The energizing ofthe electromagnet moves the motor plate :lownward and through the interposing member the punch lever is depressed and the punch caused to pcrforate the card, ThisI downward movement of the interposing member releases the bail and this breaks the circuit, so that the motor plate rises, releasing the interposing member and thus releasing the punch which is at once raised by its spring, and, therefore, the punching operation is completed electrically whether the finger key is released or not.

This downward movement of the interposing member and punch lever acting on the universal bar also shifts the escapement mechanism and effects a feeding of the card carrier or carriage one step to the left, when the punch lever and the punch are raised through the action of the spring operating upon the punch. This brings the next column under the punches and shifts the indi cator to the next column on the index card. The operator may now depress another finger key or the same finger key which will operate a punch. At times it may be desirable to skip a column, and this may be accomplished by operating the space key which will feed the carriage step by step underneath the punches. Or it may be operated by the skip key which releases the esca ement dog lug 84 and permits the carrier or the card to be moved until one of the stops 100 on the rack bar engages the stop intercepter 101.

Then again, it may be desirable to punch two or more of the symbols in a single column, without any shiftin of the card. This may be readily accomp ished by holding down the space key, as this holding down of the space key holds the universal bar 121 down, and as long as this bar is down there will be no releasing of the lug 84 of the escapement dog from the rack bar, and consequently no feed of the card carrier or carriage. As soon as the space key is released, then the carriage is fed in the usual way.

There are other times when it is desirable to punch certain of the symbols in the reverse direction, and this is accomplished by my improved back stepping mechanism. During the back stepping the normal escapement mechanism is idle and the back Steppin is brought about by an independent holding` dog and pushing dog. This enables the card carrier to be shifted one step to the right and when the punch is operated, although the universal bar may be depressed, it will be ineffective to release the carriage or card carrier as it is now held by the holding dog 150.

I am thus able to shift the card carrier one step and perforate the card without any forward Stepping of the card through the normal releasing of the escapement mechanism. Through this back stepping mechanism the card may be shifted step by step and perfoi-ated by a movement of the card in the opposite direction from that in which it is normally moved by the escapement mechanism. After the card has been perforated to thc desired extent, the card carrier or carriage may be released by first releasing the key 25 from control of the locking lever 162, and then by depressing the releasin key which moves the escapement dog entirely out of engagement with the rack bar and permits the carriage or carrier spring to return the carrier to the eXtreme left for the withdrawal of the card from underneath the punches.

It will be obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

I claim, as follows:-

l. 1n a perforating machine the combination of a base, a finger key suitably support ed and means for restoring said key, when displaced, to its normal position of rest, a spring supported punch, a punch guide and a stationary die registering with the punch, a normally inactive electromagnetic motor device arranged in a normally open circuit, a source of electric supply in said circuit and a pair of contacts normally spaced apart also in said circuit, means including an interposing member movable from its normal position of rest upon the depression of the finger key for closing the said circuit at the said contacts whereupon the said motor device becomes energized; means including said interposinc member movable by the said motor device for actuating the punch and for effecting the denergization of the said motor device immediately thereafter and in advance of any return movement of the finger key toward its normal position of rest, whereupon the said motor device becomes inactive and remains inactive till another key depression whether the then pressure of the finger upon the key be maintained or not.

2. In a perforating machine the combination of a base having guideways, a card carrier movable along the g'uideways, a punch support rigidly secured to the base and having a series of sockets extending across it transversely to the path of movement of the card carrier, spring supported punches in the sockets one in each socket, means for operating the punches each as required, suitable feedmg and escapement mechanism controlled by the punch-o erating means for advancing the card carrler by a step-by-step movement alongr the guideways inone direction, backstepping mechanism independent of the feeding and escapementv mechanism and means for operating the same whereby the card carrier may be given a step-by-step movement along the guideways in the opposite direction.

3. In a perforating machine the combination of a base having guidevvays, a card ,carrier movable along the guideways, a punch support rigidly secured to the base and having a series of sockets extending across it transversely to the path of movement of the card carrier, spring supported punches in the sockets one in each socket, means for operating the punches cach as re uired, suitable feeding and escapement mec anism controlled by the punch-operating means for advancing the card carrier by a step-by-step movement along the guideways in one direction, backstepping mechanism and means for operating the same whereby the card carrier may be given a step-by-step movement along the guideways in the opposite direction; said backstepping mechanism including a stepping dog and a holding dog both pivotally mounted in a support pivovtally earried by the base of the machine and both said dogs being operable independently of the feeding and escapement mechanism.

4. In a perforating machine the combination of a base having guideways, a card carrier movable along the guideways, a punch support rigidly secured to the base and having a series of sockets extending across it transversely to the path of movement of the card carrier, spring supported punches in the sockets one in each socket, means for operating the punches each as required, suitable feeding and escapement mechanism controlled by the punch-operating means for advancing the card carrier by a step-by-step movement along the guideways in one direction, backstepping mechanism and means for operating the same independently of the said feeding and escapement mechanism and whereby the said carrier may be given a step-by-step movementalong the guldeways in the opposite direction, said llast named means including a locking device whereby the said feeding and escapement mechanism may be rendered ineffective during subsequent operations of the punches.

5. In a perforating machine the combination of a base having guideways, a card carrier movable along the guidevvays, suitable feeding and escapementf mechanism for returning the card carrier toward its normal position oat' rest, said Gard carrier including a member adapted to carry one or more Yadjustable stops intermediate its two ends; a releasing bar suitably supported andextending across the plane of movement of the card carrier, and a stop lirrijergzfepter movable by the releasing bar; said releasing bar being adapted to be moved to and fro and having a normal position of restintermediate the extreme limits of its movements, means including a -sprin for returning the said releasing bar to its normal position of rest when displaced, means whereby the releasing bar may be moved in each direction as desired, said releasing bar adapted when moved in one direction to effect the release of the card carrier from the escapelnent mechanism and thereby permit the return of the carrier to its normal position of rest, and said releasing bar when moved in the opposite direction adapted to release the carrier and permit its return toward its normal position of rest until the carrier `is arrested by one of the adjustable stops comi against the stop intercepter which had been moved by the releasing bar into the path of move-ment of said stop.

6. In a perforating machine the combination Aof a base having guideways, a card carrier movable along the guideways, a punch support rigidly secured to the base and having a series of sockets extending across it transversely to the path of movement of the card carrier, spring-supported punches in the sockets one in each socket, a plate having dies registering with the punches, means for operating the punches each as required, suitable feeding and escapement mechanism means for advancing the card carrier by a step-by-step movement along the guideways whereby the card to be perforated is brought within the range of action of the punches; an index card havin a horizontal rovv of characters for eac punch carried by a support rigidly secured to the frame of the machine, a movable indicator suitably supported by the frame of the machine and means for effecting a step-by-step movement of the indicator eoincident with the step-by-step movement of the card carrier; the indicator being so associated with the index card as that the then position of the card being perforated in its relation to all the punches will be indicated upon the index card.

7, In a perforating machine ,the combination of a base having guideways, a card carrier movable along the uideways, a punch support rigidly `secured o the base and having a series of sockets extending across it transversely to the ath of movement of the card carrier, spring-supported punches in the sockets one in each Socket, a plate having dies registering with the punches, means for operatirgeie punches each as required, suitable e ing and escapement mechanism controlled by the punch-,operating means for advancing the card carrier by a ste -by-step movement along ,the guide- Ways w ereby the card to be perforated is ,bren ht within the ran e o f active ef .the pane es; an index cardaving a horizontal row of characters for each punch carried by a support rigidly secured to the frame of the machine, a movable indicator suitably supported by the frame of the machine and means for effecting a step-by-step movement of the indicator coincident with the step-bystep movement of the card carrier but in the opposite direction.

8. In a perforating machine thecombination of a base having guidcways, a card carrier movable along the guideways, a punch support rigidly secured to tlie base and having a series of sockets extending across it transversely to the path of movement of the card carrier, spring-supported punches in the sockets one in each socket, a plate having dies registering with the punches, means for operating the punches each as required, suitable feeding and escapement mechanism controlled by the punch-operating means for advancing the card carrier by a step-bystep movement along the guideways whereby the card to be perforated is brought within the range 0f action of the punches; an index card having a horizontal row of characters for each punch carried by a support rigidly secured to the frame of the machine, a movable indicator suitably supported by the frame of the machine and means for effecting a step-by-step movement of the indicatoncoincident with, but by steps greater in length than, the coinciding steps of the card carrier.

' 9. In a perforating machine the combination of a base having guideways, a card carrier movable along the guidevvays, a grooved wheel mounted upon and movable bodily with the card carrier, a punch support rigidly seeured to the base and having a series of sockets extending across it transversely to the path of movement of the card carrier, spring-supported punches in the sockets one in each socket, a plate having dies registering with the punches, means for operating the punches each as required, suitable feeding and escapement mechanism controlled by the punch-operating means for advancing the card carrier by a step-by-step movement along the guideways whereby the card to be perforated is brought within the range of action of the punches; an index card carried by a support secured to the frame of the machine and a movable indicator slidably connected to a guide rod supported by the frame of the machine; said indicator being attached to a flexible cord Which has both its ends fastened to the base and so disposed about said grooved Wheel as that the indil cater will be moved thereby in steps equal in number to, but greater in length than, the coinciding steps of the card carrier; the indicator being so associated with the index card as that the then position of the card being perforated, in its relation to all the punches, will be indicated upon the index card.

10. In a perforating machine, the combination of a base having guideways, a card carrier movable along the guideways, a punch support rigidly secured to the base and having a series of sockets extending across it transversely to the path of movement of the card carrier, spring-sipported punches in the sockets one in each socket, a plate having dies registering with the punches, means for operating the punches each as required, suitable feeding and eseapement mechanism controlled by the punch-operating means for advancing the card carrier by a stcp-by-step movement along the guidevvays; and means, including a rod extending from the punch support to the rear cud of the machine, whereby the card to be perforated is prevented from buckling while being brought within the range of action of the punches.

11. In a machine for perforating record cards, the combination of a base having guideways, a card carrier movable along the guidevvays, a punch support rigidly secured to the base and having a series of sockets extending across it transversely to the path of movement of the card carrier, spring supported punches in the sockets one in each socket, dies registering With the punches; means, including a series of spring supported finger keys one for each punch, for effecting the operation of the punches; suitable feeding and escapement mechanism for advancing the card carrier by a step-bystep movement along the guidevvays Whereby the card to be perforated is brought Within the range of action of the punches; a stationary index card having a horizontal roW of characters for each punch supported by the frame of the machine and a movable indicator co-acting with the card carrier; said indicator bearing upon its surface characters which indicate the particular ke or keys to be depressed to effect the per oration of the record card at the place or places desired at each o eration.

In testimony W ereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN T. SCHAAFF.

Witnesses:

THEoDoRE DELAIRGNE, EDWIN B. Hnssa.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommiuloner o! Patente, Washington, D. 0. 

